Biodiv Sci ›› 2007, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (2): 154-161.  DOI: 10.1360/biodiv.060288

Special Issue: 最后的前沿--土壤生物多样性 土壤生物与土壤健康

• Special Issue • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Roles of springtails in soil ecosystem

Jianxiu Chen*, Zhichun Ma, Haijuan Yan, Feng Zhang   

  1. College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093
  • Online:2007-03-20 Published:2007-03-20

Abstract: The springtails are widespread small to tiny arthropods in soil ecosystem. They play important roles in the circulation of soil materials, development of soil, formation of soil micro-structure, improvement of soil physical and chemical properties, and the maintenance of soil living community. The diversity, community structure, and species composition of springtails in the soil reflect the status of soil quality and con-tamination. The important roles of springtails in the soil ecosystem, their potential values in the ecological practices and the recent advances and prospects are introduced in the present paper.